A Day in the Strife: Showing our Councilmembers what it’s like on the poverty line

Councilmember Kwame Brown greets the crowd

Over 200 people – most of whom will be directly impacted by proposed budget cuts – descended upon the Wilson building yesterday, inviting the City Council to see what life is like for DC residents living in poverty. For more photos, visit our Facebook page (and give us a “like” while you’re there!)

We asked that the City Concil make our walk a little easier by fully funding safety net services, including services to victims of domestic violence, shelters for families and individuals, affordable housing, and family support services.

For a fraction of DC’s $9 billion budget, the city could fund essential public services. When there’s plenty of funding to go around, we shouldn’t have to choose between services like protecting injured workers and providing affordable housing.

A luxury tax of only 6 cents a drink would mean that families don’t have to sleep on the street.

Asking couples that together earn over $350,000 to pay their fair share would mean that victims of domestic violence would have a safe place to stay.

Using some of the $240 million surplus from last year, or the millions of dollars of surplus this year would mean that someone who was once homeless will have a place to call home.